In my last letter I referenced the new “county pod initiative.” One of the things I’ve quickly realized in this important effort is that what we’re developing and working together on are Regional Teams. And, so, moving forward, that will be the term we will be using to describe how we’re working collaboratively with the East Central and West Central Regional Teams in the coming months.
Teamwork is also a critical value for us to practice in the months and years ahead. I know we often talk about teamwork and I believe there are great examples of how Extension teams have been successful. I think of teams like the Farm Stress Team, that has reached across disciplines and the state to deliver programs and tools focused on the health and well-being of farmers.
But we also must acknowledge that Extension historically has focused on our work being in counties and departments. Today, the reality is that neither our state nor our colleges can function in that way. Cross disciplinary and cross boundary collaborations are essential to what we can accomplish together.
The Regional Teams have been working with Program Leaders and college leadership to identify transformation strategies for their teams in 2026. We have also been gathering feedback from our passionate stakeholders across the regions. I look forward to sharing more with you about the stakeholder feedback and shared vision at the December Professional Development Conference.
We know that communication will be key to our success, and that it is an area in which we can make progress. Therefore, I look forward to sharing more with you about our plans to improve and advance our internal and external communications at the Professional Development Conference in December. Your suggestions and ideas on the communications strategy will be an important part of continued discussions.
Thank you for your contributions to the Purdue Extension team.
Purdue Extension, in partnership with the National AgrAbility Project and Indiana AgrAbility, offers resources to help veterans pursue their goals,...
Unsure what to make for dinner, you check your kitchen. A loaf of bread. A bag of baby carrots. A can of pumpkin puree. A package of chicken...
As the assistant manager at Growing Minds Farm Stop, Lilly Cox understands how much work running a business can be. She creates work schedules,...
Purdue Extension’s Rooted and Resilient Homesteading Conference will return to Kendallville on Nov. 7-8 for its second year. The event brings...
As tree leaves flourish into bright fall colors, home gardens are fading into collections of brown leaves and stems. Just because the growing...
Purdue Extension is hosting a MarketReady training session from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT Nov. 20 in Evansville, Indiana. As the state’s local...
After nine years in the making, J. Long Memorial Second Street Park made its grand opening to the residents of Connersville, Indiana. Once ...
Ribbons and Records: The History of 4-H Awards and Recognition
Small but mighty, pollinators contribute to everything from aster to apples to almond butter. June marks National Pollinator Month, the perfect...
The National AgrAbility Project, housed at Purdue University’s Breaking New Ground Resource Center in the Department of Agricultural and...
Youth who have just completed grades 3-12 are invited to attend a free crop and soil science workshop, titled “Experience 4-H: Crop and Soil...
Purdue University’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture will offer a one-day workshop about hydroponic crop production July...
In community development, we are always concerned about our success and impact on communities, so we focus on measurement and evaluation, or...
March 4 marked the first renewable energy regional workshop and bus tour hosted by the Center for Energy Education, Purdue Extension community...
April 30 marks this year’s Purdue Day of Giving and an opportunity to give back to Purdue Extension. Purdue Day of Giving annually brings...
Purdue Extension partnered with Indiana Grown for Schools in 2018, when the program first began to take shape from a USDA Farm to School grant....
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — On April 11, Purdue University’s Indiana AgrAbility Project, in cooperation with Huntington University and...
Purdue Women in Agriculture (WIA) is now accepting nominations for its 2025 Emerging Women in Agriculture Leadership Award, Achievement Award and...
Purdue Extension will offer the virtual Farmers Market Certificate program over four sessions in April to train market managers and vendors on best...
The Indiana State Fair is a well-known part of 4-H, but it’s only one piece of the program. In counties across the state, 4-H is offering...
A number of Purdue Extension Professionals were recognized at the annual Purdue Extension Professional Development Conference (PDC) on Thursday,...
Have questions about pesticide safety or other farm safety topics? Fred Whitford will track down answers to those questions and more with his keen...
Assistive technologies are critical for the success of farmers with disabilities and other functional limitations. As the average age of farmers...
Lenny Farlee, sustaining hardwood Extension specialist for Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR), has been named a 2024...
Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program has released the 2023 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-related Injuries...
Many people are involved in the remarkable range of programs, services and facilities that undergird research in the College of Agriculture....
Summer is a time for exploration and discovery, and a collaboration with Indiana 4-H and the Office of Multicultural Programs showcased that...
The Purdue University College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S....
Brothers Ronald Kent and John Kristopher Taylor shared a love of the outdoors and the Boilermakers. Known as “Kent and Kris,” their...
When he thinks of his childhood, Jacobo Mora recalls rows of fruit trees and colorful squash at Kercher’s Sunrise Orchard in Goshen, Indiana....
If you’re cruising through northern Indiana in late summer or early fall, roll down your windows. Take a deep breath. Where does the smell...
Changes are a normal part of life; however, sudden or unexpected changes, such as a divorce or separation of parents, can significantly affect...
Mark Kingma, farmer cooperator in Jasper County, has been farming for 45 years with his family. In addition to knowledge from years of experience,...
The Purdue Center for Regional Development, in partnership with the Indiana Broadband Office, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs,...
Purdue Extension is addressing workforce development in Indiana with an overriding goal to foster prosperity for individuals, communities and...
The Ag Innovators’ mission is to train 4-H youth to utilize modern technology for precision agriculture and other 21st century career paths....